For more than two decades, Iron Lung have carved out their own punishing corner of hardcore and powerviolence, while Iron Lung Records has built an equally distinctive catalog rooted in punk’s DIY underground.
Later this month, the label will release Passion, the debut LP from Fashion Change, Seattle musician Ryan Mathews's brainchild. It’s a superb helping of speedy hardcore punk that also features Iron Lung’s Jensen Ward behind the kit. Check this shit out.
With that in mind, I asked Mr. Ward for a list of Iron Lung’s key musical influences, and he focused on the anarcho-punk side. From reinforcing their DIY ethic to directly shaping the duo’s songs and lyrical themes, the drummer/vocalist clues us in on some of the band’s DNA.
Check out his list below, but first, listen to the way this man abuses his drum kit on Iron Lung's excellent Adapting // Crawling LP from 2025:
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Flux of Pink Indians — “Take Heed”
“'Punk belongs to the punks, not the businessmen'—a lyric that has cemented our DIY ethic and put outsiders on notice from day one. Plus, the grinding whistle over that perfect riff is straight fuel."
The Mob — “I Wish”
"We recorded a song called 'Mob' that ran with the same syntax but tweaked it for our purposes. Weird side note: We used Elvis’ echo chamber and Cheetah Chrome’s guitar cabinet for that session. Nashville is cool."
Crass — “Crutch of Society”
"This one made taking a breath by playing slow and mean a fresh thing in the midst of all the madness that is this band. Lovely tune."
Omega Tribe — “Another Bloody Day”
“'Angry songs and bitter words' describes our approach pretty well overall. This particular song is so depressing in its beautiful portrayal of hopeless mundanity, another theme we employ regularly. That’s life, ain’t it?"
Rudimentary Peni — “Iron Lung”
"2+2=4."
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